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More than 100 House Members Back Permanent Extension of Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Law

Jul 8, 2015

Press Release

Health and compensation for injured and ill 9/11 survivors and responders set to expire without Congressional action

WASHINGTON –Support for a permanent extension of the programs established to aid ailing 9/11 responders and survivors reached a critical milestone today with 102 Members of the House of Representatives, including 24 Republicans, now backing the effort. The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act (H.R. 1786) introduced by Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Peter T. King (R-NY) just three months ago is rapidly gaining cosponsors as the 14th anniversary of the attacks approaches. The bill would prevent the October 2016 shutdown of the World Trade Center Health Program and Victim Compensation Fund.

“Support for a permanent extension of the Zadroga Act is strong, bipartisan and growing,” said Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney. “In less than three months, nearly a quarter of the House has coalesced behind the bipartisan effort. 9/11 victims and first responders have suffered immensely, both on the day of the attack and every day since. Many have developed severe health issues. This country owes it to these men and women to make sure each one of them has continued access to health care and the compensation they need to rebuild their lives. I am proud to see so many of my colleagues joining this effort.”

“From across the country and the political aisle, support continues to grow for the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “I am glad to see that fourteen years later, the sacrifices of first responders and survivors, who risked their own lives to save others and provided us with examples of great courage, commitment and heroism in the hours, weeks and years since, are not being forgotten. The permanent extension of the Zadroga Act will ensure that the men and women whose lives were forever changed on 9/11 continue to have access to the health coverage and compensation they so desperately need and deserve. I am very proud of the progress we have made in this fight and even prouder to be standing with so many of my colleagues on this important issue.”

"The ever increasing number of House colleagues from both parties and all regions supporting the permanent extension of the Zadroga Act is encouraging,” said Congressman Peter T. King. “Too many of our 9/11 responders and survivors continuing to fight serious illnesses. We have come too far and we must continue to ensure that our 9/11 heroes receive the care they deserve.”